As a racketeering trial begins in Atlanta, much of the focus is on the high-profile defendant, the best-selling rapper Young Thug.

Joe Coscarelli, a culture reporter for The New York Times, explains why, in a sense, hip-hop itself is on trial.

Guest: Joe Coscarelli, a culture reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

A judge ruled in November that at least 17 specific sets of lines from the Atlanta artist and his collaborators could be used by prosecutors in the racketeering trial of YSL, a chart-topping hip-hop label and collective.
Here’s what to know about the trial.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Daily Mass: We focus on the Lord in the ups and downs of life